Samuel e



(No Model.) 7 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. S. E. COX.

DRUM. No. 504,910. Patented Sept. 12, 1 893.

FIG-.1

WITNESSES:

INVENTOR. 5 a 6 %s.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2;

S. E. COX.

DRUM.

No. 504,910. Patented Sept. 12, 1893.

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SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 504,910, datedSeptember 12, 1893. Application filed September 17, 1892. Serial No.446.134. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, SAMUEL E. Cox, a citizen of the United States, and aresident of Cleveland, county of Cuyahoga, and State of Ohio, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Drums and SimilarInstruments, of which the following is a specification, the principle ofthe invention being herein explained and the best mode in which I havecontemplated applying that principle, so as to distinguish it from otherinventions.

The annexed drawings and the following description set forth in detail,one mechanical form embodying the invention; such detail constructionbeing but one of various mechanical forms in which the principle of theinvention may be used.

In said annexed drawings-Figure I represents a perspective View of myimproved drum, showing a portion broken away and removed; Fig. II, asectional detail view of the upper portion of the drum; Fig. III, ahorizontal section of a portion of the upper rim; Fig. IV, a sectionaldetail view of the upper portion of another form of drum, and Fig. V, asectional detail view of a portion of a banjo rim provided with myimprovement.

The drum shell, A, may be formed from metal or wood, but is preferablyformed from wood and with an annular, rectangular enlargement, A, ateach end. Said enlargement is formed with an annular groove, to, at itsinner edge, and with an inwardly extending bead, a, at its outer edge.An annular abutting rim, B, is secured in the enlargement, so as to bearwith its outer edge against the bead. That portion of the head, 0, whichis secured to the flesh-hoop, D, and the fleshhoop, bear against theinner edge of said rim. An adjusting rim, E, bears with its edge againstthe head, within the inner circumference of the flesh-hoop, and saidadjusting rim may be raised or lowered, to tighten or slacken the head,by means of screws, e, journaled to revolve in a filling, F, secured inthe groove a of the enlargement, and fitting with their threadedportions in threaded perforations formed in brackets, e, projectingoutward from the inner edge of the adjusting rim. The screws areprovided with heads, etwhich project upon the shoulder formed by theenlargement, said heads being shaped to fit a suitable key or wrench.When the adjusting rim is forced outward by the screws, the flesh-hoopwill be stopped by the abutting rim,-which, together with the shoulderof the enlargement forms an annular recess, A within which theflesh-hoop may play,and the head will be tightened. To slacken the head,the screws may be reversed and the adjusting rim drawn inward.

The abutting rimis usually made of wood and, for the purpose of snuglyand perfectly fitting it into the annular recess,inside of the bead,said rim is made slightly shorter than the inside periphery of therecess and with beveled ends, 19. A wedge-shaped block, I), having anoutward taper to correspond to the beveled ends, may fit between saidends and force them apart, su fficien tly to force the abutting rimcompletely iuto the curve of the an-- nular recess. A screw, 6 revolvesin a metal strip, 19 upon the outside of the enlargement, and fits intoa threaded hole in the wedge, so that said wedge may be operated and adjusted by the screw.

In the form illustrated in Fig. IV, the annular recess, A is directlyformed in the drum shell, and the flesh-hoop fits within said recess.The adjusting rim bears against the outside of the drum head, and theadjusting screws turn in the outer bead a, which forms a simple flange.The threaded portions of the screws enter screw-threaded holes directlyformed in the adjusting rim. In this form the head is forced inward totighten it and outward to slacken it.

When my improvement is applied to a banjo, the annular recess A isdirectly formed,- in the shape of a bead,in the shell or rim of thebanjo. The adjusting rim bears against the inner side of the head, andthe adjusting screws are stepped in a bead, A", which forms theequivalent of the groove, (1 and filling F. The screws enter threadedholes directly formed in the adjusting rim, and have their heads bearingagainst the lower bead A". The head may be tightened or slackened byrevolving the screws by means of a wrench, applied to them from theinside of the banjo rim.

Although I have specially illustrated the last described form as mostsuitable for banjos; yet, it is obvious, that any other form,

within the spirit of my improvement, may be adapted to be used forbanjos as well as for all forms of drums,snare drums, bass drums,kettle-dru ms, or tympanums.

It is evident that the appearance, eifectiveness and durability of aninstrument provided with my improvement will be greater than in theolder forms, which have their adjusting means upon the outside and inwhich the adjusting tension is exerted upon the flesh hoop.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employedfor the mode herein explained. Change may therefore be made as regardsthe mechanism herein set forth provided the principles of constructionrespectively recited in the following claims are employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as myinvention 1. In a drum or similar instrument, the combination of a fleshhoop, a head secured to said flesh hoop, a shell formed with an annularrecess within which the flesh hoop may fit and have axial play, and amovable adjusting rim bearing against the head and having means foradjusting it arranged within the annular recess in the shell,substantially as set forth.

2. In a drum orsimilarinstrument, the combination of a shell formed withan annular recess, a head having its flesh hoop securedsubstantiallyimmovablein said recess, a movable adjusting rim bearingagainst the head and having brackets projecting into the annular recess,and screws journaled to revolve in the bottom of said annular recess andhaving threaded ends fitting into corresponding holes in the brackets ofthe adjusting rim, substantially as set forth.

3. In a drum or similar-instrument, the combination of a shell formedwith an annular enlargement having a head at its outer edge, an abuttingrim in said enlargement, a head having its flesh hoop bearing againstthe inthe shell and fitted into a threaded hole in the end of the wedge,substantially as set forth.

5. In adrum orsimilarinstrument, the combination of a shell formed withan annular enlargement having a head at its outer edge and a groove atits inner end, an abutting rim in said enlargement and bearing againstthe bead of the same, a filling in the groove of the enlargement, a headhaving its flesh hoop bearing against the inner edge of the abuttingrim, an adjusting rim bearing against the head within the innerperiphery of the flesh hoop, and screws inserted through andjournaled inthe groove and filling of the enlargement and connected to move saidadjusting rim, substantially as set forth.

6. In adrum orsimilar instrument, the co mbination of a shell formedwith an annular recess, a head having its flesh hoop securedsubstantially immovable in said recess, a movable adjusting rim bearingagainst the head, and adjusting means within the recess constructed toaxially move the adjusting rim, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing to be my invention I havehereunto set my hand this 6th day of September, A. D. 1892.

SAMUEL E. COX.

Witnesses:

WM. SEoTHER, J. B. FAY.

